I believe this is correct. The service ceiling for a very modern Boeing 787 is ~13,000 m whereas in 1957 a Canberra achieved the then-record altitude of 21,430

I believe this is correct. The service ceiling for a very modern Boeing 787 is ~13,000 m whereas in 1957 a Canberra achieved the then-record altitude of 21,430 m: http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9843 http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9843